KEY POINTS:
Dynamic Auckland Waitakere defender Stephanie Bond will sit out this week's national tournament in Palmerston North in an effort to mend a persistent calf injury.
The New Zealand A team member has been troubled by the injury for a while so has decided to miss the week-long tournament
to let it heal and allow her to contest a place in a Tasman Trophy side if she chooses to do so.
Losing Bond is a blow for Auckland Waitakere but they are fortunate that they have former Silver Fern Anna Scarlett and former New Zealand under-21 player Rachel Rasmussen in their defensive mix.
The pair combined effectively in the side's first three games, which they won, in Invercargill two weekends ago.
Nicole Scopes, who played for the Diamonds in this year's National Bank Cup, has also joined the side as Bond's replacement.
In a tournament thrown wide open by the influx of young players because of the unavailability of the Silver Ferns, Auckland Waitakere coach Paula Bailey says being able to rotate players will be the key - a difficult task considering every game is a must win.
"It comes down to playing your players cleverly, I guess," Bailey said.
Auckland Waitakere face Western today. Western beat Wellington and Bay of Plenty in the opening weekend and are tipped to be one of the movers and shakers in the competition. But the side have hit a small snag with star shooter Daneka Wipiiti grappling with a thigh injury. Wipiiti is in Palmerston North but it is still unclear how much of a role she will play for Western in the early part of the week.
"Their game plan pretty much revolves around Daneka," Bailey said.
"But I think they are tidy in their defence with the Burgess sisters [Erika and Lauren] and with Liana [Barrett-Chase] in the middle. But I rate my middies. Their connections at the moment are going really well. Young Alysha Hukatai, in particular, has stepped up another level the last couple of outings."
In today's big match defending champions Waikato go up against North. Otago beat Waikato in the opening weekend, which North coach Melissa Walker reckons will spur her opponents on today.
"We know Waikato are a real nuggety team. Their strengths are - and I think it is going to be a trend throughout the week - their young girls and their unpredictable play. That is no disrespect to any of them but sometimes I think they surprise themselves with what they do out there on court."
Counties Manukau failed to secure a win in their opening three matches in Dunedin two weekends ago but have a chance to do so today when they line up against Eastern. Eastern finished ninth in last year's competition and Counties Manukau 12th.
